Given the crisis the world is currently facing, I am reminded of the Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie song from 1985, “We Are the World”:
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (we are the children)
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
These words are not just for today, but ones I have believed in throughout my life and career. I’ve chosen this topic because I think it is the responsibility of everyone to give back, even just a little. It is why one of the major themes of “Making AI Real” is about Altruistic AI.
Altruism implies not just being philanthropic but being proactive and actively engaged in the process. It goes beyond the responsibility to ensure that AI is used for good to an act of taking your company’s capabilities and applying it to something that the world could benefit from.
Many companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Intel have specific corporate programs that they fund and support. They use names like “AI for Good” or “AI for Humanity”. Many research centres and universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Toronto, and Montreal, have also initiated research specifically aimed at how AI can positively impact society.
The goal of Altruistic AI is about everyone getting keenly engaged – and not just leaving it to the big players. Every company, right down to the start-ups, can be part of applying AI beyond just their target markets.
There are many areas that might be of interest:
You can do a Google search to find some specific applications for each topic. To give you a start, I’ve selected a cross-section of some fascinating implementations for each of these topics. In each set of options for a specific topic, I’ve tried to give a good reflection of what is the “art of the possible”. You can get the whole set of URLs and overview descriptions by downloading:
These are just some ideas to see what might be worth exploring about how AI is being applied to make the world a better place. Your research and business teams will also have many ideas of their own. The aim is to find that “feel good” endeavour that rings with your corporate values. It is incredible how just a small involvement by your company can make the world just a little better.
Inside View: Vector